January 14, 2014

Calligraphy Tutorial | the Capital Letter "I"

We're back today with a letter that we (and other calligraphers) have an ongoing LOVE/HATE relationship with...the Capital Letter "I"!! Of all the letters, this is one that you'll certainly need to master. As you can imagine, it's used a lot in writing so having a strong "I," and a few options will really help out in your practice!

The problem with "I" is not that it's tricky-because it's one of the most simple structures in the alphabet. What makes it so difficult for lettering artists is how easily it becomes illegible. If you bring the main stroke down too far (below the line)-now it looks like a "J." If you make the top too big-now it looks like a "T." Our strategy with this letter has alway been to just KEEP IT SIMPLE. Flourish the other letters in your piece as much as possible if you like-but keep "I" simple and legible. This becomes especially important if you're working on a document or envelope (something that must be read clearly).

Other than that, "I" is easy and you should definitely love it! It's a great one to perfect first, since it has only a few, very basic strokes.

What you you think of "I"? Having trouble with it? Let us know in the comments below or on Instagram (@antiquariadesign). As always...we want to see your practice so tag it with #letterschool or send us a pic via email.